Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park (Russian: Смоленское Поозерье, meaning "Smolensk Lakes") is a forest and wetland area with 35 lakes and the land around them. It is located in the northwest part of Smolensk Oblast, near the border with Belarus, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of the city of Smolensk. The Western Dvina River passes through the lake region. The park was created in 1992. In 2002, it became part of an international group of biosphere reserves. The park is managed by two districts in Smolensk Oblast: Demidovsky and Dukhovshchinsky.

Topography

The park spans 55 kilometers (34 miles) from east to west and 50 kilometers (31 miles) from north to south across a flat area with low-lying rivers and lakes. The highest point is 248 meters (814 feet) above sea level, and the lowest is 167 meters (548 feet). The land below includes gravel moraines, ridges, and flat floodplains. The two main rivers are the Yelsha and the Polovya. The largest lake is Lake Sapsho, which covers 3 square kilometers (3 km²). It is a glacial lake and a major tourist attraction in the nearby town of Przhevalskoye. The park includes about 107,563 hectares (265,794 acres) of forest (about 75% of the area), 16,240 hectares (40,130 acres) of bogs, 1,608 hectares (3,973 acres) of lakes, and 468 hectares (1,156 acres) of rivers.

Climate and ecoregion

Smolenskoye Poozerye is located near the eastern end of the Sarmatic mixed forests ecoregion (WWF ID#436), which stretches from southern Sweden through the Baltic states and central eastern Europe (including Moscow) to the Ural Mountains. This ecoregion is a narrow area of low forests, lakes, and wetlands that extends from the Baltic Sea eastward to the Urals. The forests are usually a mix of conifer and deciduous trees, but large areas of continuous forest are being reduced due to farming.

For aquatic habitats, the park is part of the "Volga-Ural" freshwater ecoregion (WWF ID#410), a region known for having many fish species but few that are found only in this area.

The climate of Smolenskoye Poozerye is a humid continental climate with warm summers (Köppen climate classification Dfb). This climate has large changes in temperature throughout the day and across seasons, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters. In winter, days can be clear when cold air from the poles moves in, and in summer, there are sometimes thunderstorms. Average temperatures range from 17°F in January to +64°F in July. Annual rainfall averages 24.6 inches (62 cm).

Plants

The park is designed to include many different habitats in a small, connected area. These habitats include pine forests, spruce forests, broad-leaf forests, bogs, sedge meadows along the banks of rivers and lakes, dry meadows, and water areas. A study of tree cover showed spruce (16%), pine (12%), birch (38%), aspen (13%), and black alder (6%).

Animals

A count of animals in the park found 54 types of mammals, 232 types of birds, and 37 types of fish. In 2012, the World Wildlife Fund began a project called "Conservation and restoration of rare bird species in large wetlands of Smolensk Lakeland National Park."

History

The area around the Smolensk Lakes has been home to people for thousands of years. Evidence of past human activity, such as tools and structures, has been found throughout the park. The oldest tools, made of flint, date back to the Mesolithic Age, around 8,000 to 7,000 years ago. There are 17 known sites from the Neolithic period and about 25 memorials from the Bronze Age. Starting in the fifth century AD, the culture in the region became Slavic, with people farming and working with wood. Today, there are 123 villages in the area. The park includes a resort town named Przhevalskoye, located on the shores of Lake Sapsho.

Tourism

The park has recreational facilities, including a well-known spa called "Holy Well" and an ancient settlement named Verzhavska. Nature trails, bike trails, horseback riding trails, and water routes for tourists are kept in good condition. There is a special trail for children called "Fairy Tales of a Russian Forest," which includes forts and structures resembling the homes of folklore characters such as Baba-Yaga and Leshy. The park offers guided tours for bird-watching, visits to historical and cultural sites, and educational activities about science. The park manages 32 tourist shelters and 30 guest houses. Officials estimate that the park receives between 230,000 and 250,000 visitors each year, with most of them being local residents.